The Mayor and President of Imola have reacted following the information that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been excluded from the 2026 F1 schedule.
The dropping of the favored venue is without doubt one of the large shocks following the discharge of the 2026 schedule, as Spain will get two races and Canada goes head-to-head with the Indy 500.
Whereas the long run futures of each Imola and Barcelona was doubtful, it was thought that each, like numerous different European venues, is likely to be placed on a rotating foundation.
With the Spanish Grand Prix heading to the Madring it was anticipated that Barcelona would make means for Imola subsequent yr, however as an alternative there will likely be two races within the nation.
“The provisional calendar of the Formulation 1 Grand Prix for the 2026 season has been introduced, from which Imola is excluded,” reads an announcement issued by Imola’s Mayor, Marco Panieri and President, Michele de Pascale.
“That is information that we have been conscious of and that understandably generates questions, disappointment and a way of bitterness on the surface,” it continues, “as a result of lately our territory has confirmed to have the ability to host a rare occasion with file numbers, able to combining worldwide status, promotion of Made in Italy, of the Motor Valley and concrete returns for the financial and vacationer system of our land and of the whole nation.
“In truth, the Grand Prix in Imola was one of the beloved and appreciated by followers and drivers, as was additionally forcefully demonstrated within the days following the occasion, and its uniqueness on the earth was evident: that of uniting the race on the observe with the encircling territory, ranging from a historic heart to be skilled.
“Nevertheless, we wish to be very clear: this information is certainly not the ultimate phrase,” they insist. “For the Area and the territory, the trail undertaken by Imola and the Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna doesn’t finish right here. We’re and have been conscious of the complexity of the dynamics linked to the calendar and the image was very sophisticated from the start.
“The contract signed in 2021 – which few believed doable on the time – envisaged the secure return of the Gran Premio to Imola till 2025.
“Because the Emilia-Romagna Area and the Municipality of Imola, among the many selling companions, now we have really carried out every thing that may very well be carried out on this section. We’ve highlighted a number of instances, on a number of events, in several methods, to all of the actors concerned, the significance and strategic nature of the difficulty. We did it with transparency, readability, most availability and institutional collaboration.”
The information is especially stunning given Imola is the house city of F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, who can have discovered it a troublesome choice to make.
Having “allotted the required assets within the funds additionally for 2026, as had been requested by the opposite institutional and sporting companions after the dedication made to get better subsequent yr the missed 2023 version because of the dramatic flood occasions”, the assertion concludes: “Nevertheless, this isn’t the time for controversy, buck-passing and resignation. Now’s the time for everybody to take accountability and resume discussions for a return to the calendar.”
